Souvenir, Starring Judy Kaye, to End Broadway Run on Jan. 8

Souvenir, the musical about a tone-deaf diva starring Tony Award-winner Judy Kaye, will close at the Lyceum Theatre (149 W. 45th St.) on January 8th, 2006.

At closing, the play with music will have run for 10 previews and 70 regular performances.  Souvenir, which is directed by Vivian Matalon, opened on November 10th after beginning previews on October 28th.

Souvenir, which began its original run at the York Theatre Company late last year, is a two-character fantasia on the life of Florence Foster Jenkins, an unmarried society matron whose delusions of singing grandeur led her to Carnegie Hall, where she performed her off-pitch operatic trills to the delight of thousands in the 1940s. Donald Corren co-stars with Kaye as Cosme McMoon, her pianist; the play with music examines their rocky but ultimately affectionate relationship. While it is unknown whether the real-life Foster Jenkins knew that she was not a great soprano, the comedic but compassionate play is based around the premise that she remained ignorant for the majority of her career. 

Souvenir's design team features R. Michael Miller (sets), Tracy Christensen (costumes), Ann G. Wrightson (lighting) and David Budries (sound).  Tom Helm is the musical director.

Kaye (who is renowned for her vocal range) is a Tony-winner for her performance as Carlotta in The Phantom of the Opera, and she also received a nod for Mamma Mia!, in which she originated the role of Rosie on Broadway. She received a Theatre World Award for On the Twentieth Century, in which she replaced Madeline Kahn as the tempestuous Lily Garland. Other Broadway credits include Ragtime (in which she played Emma Goldman), Oh, Brother! and Grease. In addition to numerous studio cast albums, she has released two solo CDs--Diva by Diva and Songs from the Silver Screen.

Souvenir plays performances on Tuesday-Saturday evenings at 8 PM with matinees Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2 PM and Sundays at 3 PM.  Tickets for Souvenir, which range from $46.25-$86.25, are available by visiting www.souvenironbroadway.com.